United States

Ukraine

Russia

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Politics

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The second day of U.S.-mediated Russia-Ukraine talks in Geneva, Switzerland, ended after roughly two hours, Reuters reported on Feb. 18.

Russia, Ukraine, U.S.: Geneva Talks Conclude With Kremlin Demands Unchanged

Russian, Ukrainian and U.S. negotiators convened in Geneva, Switzerland, for two days of U.S.-mediated talks, Reuters reported on Feb. 17.

Russia, Ukraine, U.S.: Geneva Talks Open With Territorial Divide Intact

Switzerland

Economics

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia, Ukraine and the United States would hold the next round of peace talks in Geneva, Switzerland, on Feb. 17-18, with presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky leading the Russian delegation, Russian state news agency TASS reported on Feb. 13.

Russia, Ukraine, U.S: Geneva Talks To Resume Feb. 17-18

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said it was premature to discuss elections in Ukraine, commenting on media reports that Kyiv could soon announce a presidential election and a referendum on a peace deal to be held in May, Russian state news agency TASS reported on Feb. 11.

Ukraine, Russia: Moscow Downplays Election Reports as Kyiv Denies Plans

In an interview with TV BRICS, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia sees no "bright future" for economic relations with the United States despite ongoing U.S.-brokered efforts to end the war in Ukraine, Reuters reported on Feb. 9.

Russia, U.S.: Moscow Downplays Economic Reset as Talks Stall

Delegations from Russia, Ukraine and the United States concluded a second round of U.S.-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi, agreeing that each side would release 157 prisoners of war, Reuters reported on Feb. 5.

Russia, Ukraine, U.S.: Abu Dhabi Talks End With POW Swap, Agreement to Continue Negotiations 

Russian, Ukrainian and U.S. officials began a second round of U.S.-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, just a day after Russia carried out its largest missile and drone strike of the winter against Ukraine's energy infrastructure, Reuters reported Feb. 4.

Ukraine, Russia: Second Round of Abu Dhabi Peace Talks Begins Under Fire

Energy

Russia launched a large overnight barrage of missiles and drones against Ukrainian energy infrastructure and cities during extreme cold, damaging power and heating systems across several regions just ahead of resumed U.S.-brokered talks, Dzerkalo Tyzhnia reported on Feb. 3.

Russia, Ukraine: Russia Strikes Ukrainian Energy Infrastructure Ahead of U.S.-Brokered Talks

Assessments

Europe

City authorities and businesses rebuild residential buildings damaged by Russian shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on July 12, 2023.

While European governments can fund Ukraine's war effort this year and next, securing the investment needed to rebuild damaged infrastructure will face significant political, economic and structural hurdles.

The Challenge of Rebuilding Ukraine's Economy

Columns

On Geopolitics

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a press conference at the European Commission's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on Aug. 17, 2025.

Despite its strategic imperative to secure Ukraine's Western alignment, the EU remains unlikely to grant the country full or partial membership anytime soon due to numerous challenges, with the ongoing war being chief among them.

To Keep the Promise of Ukraine's Accession Alive, the EU Mulls Alternative Options

Israel

Palestinian Territories

Indonesia

Vietnam

Slovakia

Hungary

India

U.S. President Donald Trump (C) holds up his signature on the founding charter of the Board of Peace among other world leaders at the World Economic Forum on Jan. 22 in Davos, Switzerland.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: The Board of Peace Convenes, Russia-Ukraine-U.S. Talks in Geneva

Snapshots

United Arab Emirates

Emirati flags on Feb. 4 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. On Feb. 4-5, delegations from Russia, Ukraine and the United States held a second round of trilateral talks in the United Arab Emirates.

The talks are unlikely to produce a near-term settlement, as Russia will continue to press its territorial demands while using diplomacy to manage sanctions pressure and build leverage ahead of a spring-summer offensive.

The Limits of Russia-Ukraine-U.S. Talks

China

Russian soldiers wear chemical protection suits as they stand next to a military fueler on the base of a prime mover of Russian Topol intercontinental ballistic missile during a training session at the Serpukhov's military missile forces research institute some 100km outside Moscow on April 6, 2010.

Over time, this will intensify an ongoing buildup of nuclear capabilities across the globe and make crises involving nuclear powers more unpredictable and prone to miscalculations. 


Implications of the Last Major U.S.-Russian Nuclear Arms Control Agreement's Expiration

U.S.-China Relations

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a meeting with European national security advisors in Kyiv on Jan. 3, 2026. 

The reshuffle seeks to strengthen Zelensky's negotiating position and mitigate the political fallout from a likely unfavorable peace deal amid weakening Western support and Russia's continued battlefield advances.

Ukraine's Government Reshuffle Signals Preparation for a Tough Peace Deal

Greenland

Denmark

France

A sniper police officer on the Congress hotel during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum on Jan. 24, 2025, in the Alpine resort of Davos, Switzerland.

The Weekly Rundown: Davos, Europe Steps Up Greenland Deployments

Nigeria

Colombia

Cuba

Mexico

Venezuela

Iran

Taiwan

Norway

Pakistan

Cyber

Environment, Science & Technology

Global Trade

Social Issues

RANE's Top 10 Risks for 2026 highlights high-impact, low-probability risks and trends from the annual forecast presented in more extreme terms.

RANE's Top 10 Risks for 2026

U.S.-Iran Relations

Media

Forecast Webcast

Join our analysts for this webcast recording exploring key topics identified in RANE's 2026 Annual Geopolitical Forecast.

2026 Annual Geopolitical Forecast Webcast

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Middle East and North Africa

Asia-Pacific

Eurasia

South Asia

As elections reshape political incentives worldwide, 2026 will see major powers recalibrate diplomacy and conflict, raising the risk of fragile deals, regional instability and sudden escalation.

2026 Annual Geopolitical Forecast: An Excerpt

Saudi Arabia

Yemen

North Korea

South Korea

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B fighter jet takes off from Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport on December 15, 2025 in Ceiba, Puerto Rico. If U.S. strikes escalate and cause significant casualties, it could make retaliatory measures -- including the arbitrary detention of U.S. citizens in Venezuela or the harassment of energy sector vessels in the region -- more likely.

The Weekly Rundown: South Korea's President Visits Beijing, U.S. Operations in Venezuela

A NASA satellite image shows the city lights of Europe. 

In this scorecard, we take a critical look at our hits and misses in forecasting geopolitical events over the past year.

Grading Our 2025 Annual Forecast

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

SITUATION REPORTS

Russia, Ukraine, U.S.: Geneva Talks Conclude With Kremlin Demands Unchanged

Russia, Ukraine, U.S.: Geneva Talks Open With Territorial Divide Intact

Russia, Ukraine, U.S: Geneva Talks To Resume Feb. 17-18

Ukraine, Russia: Moscow Downplays Election Reports as Kyiv Denies Plans

Russia, U.S.: Moscow Downplays Economic Reset as Talks Stall

Russia, Ukraine, U.S.: Abu Dhabi Talks End With POW Swap, Agreement to Continue Negotiations

Ukraine, Russia: Second Round of Abu Dhabi Peace Talks Begins Under Fire

Russia, Ukraine: Russia Strikes Ukrainian Energy Infrastructure Ahead of U.S.-Brokered Talks

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